Continual Compassion

Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
–Hebrews 4:16

Why is Jesus the perfect high priest? He offers the sufficient sacrifice. He offers unlimited understanding. And He offers continual compassion.

In Hebrews 4:16, the writer says, “Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” That verb translated “let us draw near” is in a continuous tense, which means literally, “let us keep drawing near to God’s throne of grace.” No longer is God’s throne a throne of judgment, but if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, the throne of judgment has become a throne of grace. The writer was saying, “Let us keep coming to the throne of grace.” Why? “So that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” In a culture of monarchy that existed in the first century and still exists in many parts of the world, the idea of just walking up to the king and asking him for things was unthinkable. You would not walk into the presence of a king unless you wanted your head delivered to you on a platter. Remember Queen Esther in the Old Testament? She put her life at great risk to go to King Ahasuerus on behalf of the Jewish people. Nobody went into the king’s presence on their own.

I thought about that truth a few weeks ago. I was in Washington, D.C., so I decided to see the president if he was available. I called his assistant, and she said, “Let me check the schedule, and I will get back to you.” I knew it was a packed day. About an hour later, she called me and said, “I just talked to him. He said he would love to see you, so just come over any time you want to.” I got in a cab and drove to the White House and went through three levels of security. I finally was ushered into the West Wing complex and went through those narrow hallways into the little outer office outside the Oval Office. As I looked in, I stood on the edge of the carpet because I saw nobody was seated behind that resolute desk. I would not go in until the president invited me in. I am not the smartest person in the world, but even I know enough about White House etiquette to know you don’t walk into the Oval Office unless the president invites you.

How much truer is that of God? Who are we to think we can just wander in before the King of kings and Lord of lords? But that invitation has been issued to us. You and I have been told to come boldly, not timidly, into the presence of God. You can come and talk to God about anything you want to talk to Him about. You can talk to Him about your hopes, your fears, your sadness, your disappointments, and your needs. And when you talk to Him, you can talk as long as you want to. You don’t have to stop by for a quick visit; you are welcome to come into His presence anytime and talk to Him about anything and know that when you do, you will find mercy and grace in time of need. That is great hope to all of us who have blown it.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Hope For Those Who Have Blown It” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2018.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.